"Physics- B.A. with Teaching of Science Concentrations" vs. a Regular Physics B.A.

anhydrite
Sun, 15 Feb 2015 12:58:40 +0000

SUNY Buffalo has solid physics. If you want to pursue physics in a reputable graduate program, my personal advice would be to complete the full Bachelor of Science degree. Or at least the full B.A. in physics, as you describe per Buffalo’s curriculum; but, given what you also say re: grad school, you’d better be sure you fulfill all requirements for graduate physics admissions [more below].

I don’t feel comfortable displacing an advisor’s recommendation – who does sound, based on your description, selfish and not considering your actual needs and potential life goals – on a forum like this. Therefore, I’ll phrase it in reference to myself: if I were in your position, I would get myself a new advisor, and preferably one who has a successful track record getting students accepted into natural science PhD programs. Feel free to disregard my advice if you wish; I don’t know the other programs at Buffalo, but this B.A. in a natural science idea sounds limiting to me, especially as you describe three years of political science beforehand.

At the minimum, you might consider speaking to several graduate students and professors in the physics department – not the language arts/teaching/B.A. program – and ask them candidly: what does it take for a physics student to be accepted and excel in a solid PhD program? (If you just seek an M.S. in physics somewhere, beware that you will probably have to pay for it; PhD programs for the promising candidates in natural sciences usually involve some sort of funding). How would you even do well on a physics GRE exam, or have the requisite course / labwork to be accepted to one of these graduate physics programs?

Finally, now’s the time to double- and triple-check that your career preparation / diploma credential is on track for what you may want out of life. Not after you graduate.